The FBI has controversial plans to take a census of American Muslims and their places of worship. That has many Muslims worried the government is linking their faith to terrorism. According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, the FBI's 56 field offices will conduct the survey. The claim it would protect the Muslim community from hate crimes, but civil rights activists worry the survey could be a source of racial profiling.
Zaine Reza Letif is a Muslim who has lived in America for the past 16 years. She says she has come to trust this country's government and the possibility of a census doesn't worry her. "It's understandable they want to do this to safeguard the country from any further conspiracy that might be going on, so I'm, personally as a Muslim -- I'm not offended by this at all."
Zaine says she sees why some Muslims might be upset about the census, but suggests they look at it from another perspective. "I think they are not understanding and not feeling with the general public in America.. They're not taking it. They're not trying to be in American shoes."
She is referring to the drastic changes this country has gone through after the tragic events of September 11th. She says if her people have nothing to hide, then why not cooperate? "If you have so much freedom in a country, just to tell people they are not doing anything illegal or anything against the rules or breaking the law of a country, whey can't you tell people what you are doing?"
Zaine is sorry that it has come to this. She regrets the bad rap her religion has taken for the actions of a few. "Islam is such that one of the literal meanings of Islam is peace, and a bunch of lunatic people that were involved in the terrorist actions of 9/11 has spoiled the name of Islam."
Some critics of the FBI's census say they fear American Muslims will be treated like Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many suffered through long stints in internment camps. Zaine says she thinks that is a natural fear, but it is one she does not share. She believes this country's government will be fair in the event of war.
Amarillo's local FBI field office is saying very little about the census. They say FBI headquarters has mentioned the possibility of a census if we go to war with Iraq, but no official orders to start the process have come down yet.